Suction cleaner



' June 24, 1941. H, 5 WHITE v Re. 21,846

SUCTION CLEANER Original Filed July 31. 1931 Reissued June 24, 1941 Re,

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE SUCTION CLEANER Harry B. White, NorthCanton, Ohio, assignor to The Hoover Company, North Canton, Ohio, acorporation oi. Ohio Original No. 2,099,413, dated November 16, 1937,Serial No. 554,271, July 31, 1931. Application for reissue July 3, 1939,Serial No. 282,742 r v 14 Claims. (01.15-16) .1

The present invention relates to suction clean- Fig. is a much enlargedfragmentary view in ers, particularly those known as portable succentrallongitudinal sectionof certain of the parts tion cleaners provided witha handle pivoted to as shown in Fig. 2 but with the connection the bodyof the cleaner by which the apparatus straightened to form a straightconduit; as a whole may be directed over the carpet or Fig. 6 is anenlarged fragmentary view in side other floor covering which is beingcleaned. With elevation, similar to Fig. 1, and showing a modicleanersof this type it is customary to use a dust fied structure for supportingthe upper end of filtering bag formed of cloth, cellulose fiber felt,the bag; and

or other material, which is detachably secured to Fig. '7 is an enlargedview in transverse section the body of the cleaner at a. point separated10 taken on line of Fig. 6.

somewhat from the point of pivotal attachment of In Fig. 1, a suctioncleaner casing l l is shown the cleaner handle, the upper end of the bagbeas supported upon wheels l2 and having a nozing supported from thehandle at a point adjacent zle l3 arranged for engagement by the carpet,or its upper end. It will be apparent that, in such other floor coveringto be cleaned, an electric constructions, the lower end of the bag,adjacent motor, indicated generally at ll, being carried its point ofattachment, will be repeatedly flexed by the casing II and adapted tooperate a fan, and the bag will be at times under tension not shown,which discharges rearwardly through lengthwise, as the handle is movedup and down an outlet 15. If desired, the cleaner may include during useof the cleaner, resulting in rapid wear a device, 'not shown, foragitating the carpet,

and causing frequent replacement of the bag. located above the openingof the nozzle l3 and This invention pertains particularly tothe'atoperated by the motor It. A handle bail I6 is tachment and supportof a suction cleaner bag, pivoted to the cleaner casing at H, and to itis and one of the objects of the invention is to prorigidly connected atubular handle l8 which is vide means for attaching the bag to thebody-of preferably provided with a plate l9 supporting a the cleaner andsupporting it from the handle switch 20 and an electric cable 2| forsupplying which will relieve the bag of all flexure or strain andcontrolling the current for operating the as the handle is moved.Aiurther object is the motor 14, it being understood that suitableconprovision of means for this purpose which will be necting wires areprovided in the tubular hanefllcient and durable, which may beeconomically dle 18. These parts are of well known construcmanufactured,andv which will facilitate attachtion and are not described in detail asthey may ment of the bag, or removal 01' it for emptying. vary greatlywithout materially afiecting the A still further object is to provide aflexible constructure in which the present invention is emnectionbetween the cleaner outlet and the bag bodied.

which will be durable and will efiectively prevent In order to preventflexure of the dust-filtering leakage, even under long continued use.Anbag 22 by movement of the handle it, and limit other object of theinvention is to provide a any bending of the material of the-bag to thatflexible bendable conduit for a dirt-laden air resulting from inflationand deflation thereof, stream in which there is relatively great movethelower end of the bag is connected to a pivment and bending along thelength thereof which otally mounted member which has a rigid arm v is ofa type to dislodge adhering foreign material. movably connected at itsupper end to the han- Still further objects .of the invention and the.dle, and from which upper end the top of the bag novel features ofconstruction and operation-will is yieldably supported to allow forvariations in be apparent from the following specification when lengthof the bag due to inflation. The pivotally read with reference to theaccompanying drawmounted member, to which the bag isrdetachably ing. inwhich: I v r secured, is connectedby a flexible tubular mem Fig. 1 is aview in side elevation of a suction her to an attaching ring whichitself is prefercleaner embodying the invention; ably detachably securedto the discharge outlet Fig. 2 is an enlarged iragmentary view in cenofthe cleaner.

tral longitudinal section of a part of the struc- The discharge outlet15 of the cleaner, as

ture shown in Fig. 1 and illustrates the connec- 5 shown, is providedwith a flat circular flange tion flexed to form an angle; 23 widened atthe sides to form lugs in which Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view ofcertain of threaded studs are mounted, and nuts 24 are the parts shownin'Fig. 1; mounted upon these studs to secure a flat attach- I 'lg. 4 isan enlarged view in rear elevation of ing'rlng 25 in place against theflange 23, by enthe parts showninFig. 3; gagement with laterallyprojecting slotted ears a used to connect the upper I posi-tion.. Thetubular body of ring 41 is provided with an spaced outwardly therefromand carrying a spring,

50, or other means for con- 2|. The flat face of the ring the flange 2-3is formed with an annular groove to receive a packing 21, preferably'offelt or similar material, and laterally spaced lugs 2|, projectrearwardly from-the upper part of the ring 2i, and to such lugs a shorttubular coupling member 29 is pivotally connected by a laterally belowthe handle it to a point adjacent the upper end of the bag 22, andpreferably curved downwardly at its end, as shown at II and providedwith a hook 28. A coiled tension spring I! is end'oi' the rod II .to thehandle, being secured to the rod in any suitable manner and beingconnected at its upper end, if desired, to a perforatedtab 3-8 which isbent down from the switch-carrying plate II. The upperend of the bag 22is preferably open, to facilitate emptying, the end being preferablyfolded and held closed by a clamping device I! which is secured Lo thehook it and acts as a link which permits a swinging movement of the endof the bag as the A flexible tubular member I is provided to connect thering 25 and the tubular coupling member 29, and is formed of rubber withpreformed corrugations II which are considerably wider at the bottomthan at the top, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. The flexible member I may bemoulded, if desired, but is preferably formed electrolytically by aprocess known as the "anode process, the initial shape of the memberbeing preferably that in which it is held when the handle l8, andconsequently rod 22 and coupling member 29, are in the intermediateposition most frequently occupied during use of the cleaner. Theinternal diameter of the flexible member I is substantially equal tothat of the ring II and the coupling member 29, and it is secured tothem by split spring members 42 and II which compress the ends of themember 40 outwardly into annular grooves 44 and 4!, respectively, in

the ring and coupling member.

Upon its outer cylindrical surface the couplingmember 2! is formed witha plurality of bayonet slot grooves 46, preferably three, and a bagclamping ring i1 is adapted to be telescopically engaged upon thecoupling member 29, being provided with inwardly directed projections 48engaging in the bayonet grooves 48. It is preferable that theprojections 48, and the correspondbe spaced unequally from each other,so that the parts will register in only one the bag clampin annularflange ll clamp and a. lever tracting such clamp, so that the mouth ofthe bag 22 may be inserted between the body of the member 41 andv itsflange l9 and detachably clamped in place. I

A modified structure for movably supporting the upper end of the rod 33is shown in Figaro and 7, the yielding spring support being replaced bya sliding support by securing rollers Il'on a -.pintle B2 in apbracketII which is secured to the rod 32, the bracket 53 passing through a slotII in the handle", and the rollers Ii engaging the. inner surface of thehandle adjacent such slot. To limit the entry of the bracket II in bagis inflated or deflated. l

2! which engages of channel form is, provided in the handle I I,overlying the rollers Ii and guiding them, and secured in place by lugsII which pass through openings in the handle II and are bent over asshown in Fig. 7.

, In either modification shown, it will be apparcut that the rigidconnection between rod 23 and the bag clamping flexure oi the bag 22upon movement of the handle ll, all of the bending to compensate forvarious positions of the handle being afforded by the corrugatedflexible At the same time, the dust bag 22 may be readily removed orreplaced and, upon inflation or deflation, when the cleaner is startedor stopped, may change in length without being placed under anyconsiderable endwise tension. The construction permits the use of dustbags formed of material which is inexpensive but of insuiflcientstrength to resist the repeated bendings which would occur if the mouthof the bag were connected directly to the cleaner outlet, or in anystructure in which the top of the bag is supported directly from thehandle so that it is subjected to endwise tension.

the slot 54, a track 55 claims I claim:

1. A coupling and supporting device for movment of a dust filtering bagto a suction cleaner,

comprising a ring adapted to be detachably secured-to the suctioncleaner outlet, a tubular coupling member pivotally connected to saidring, a flexible tubular member connecting said ring and 0nd tubularcoupling member detachably connected to said flrst coupling member andhaving means thereon for detachably securing the dust bag thereto.

4. A suction cleaner comprising a body provided with a discharge outletand having an upwardly extending handle pivoted thereto, a ring saidhandle, ring and supported at its upper end by said sup- PO 5. A suctioncleaner comprising a bodyprovided with a discharge outlet and having anup wardly extending handle pivoted thereto, a ring ring 41 will preventany connecting member Ill. u

carried by said outlet and pivotally mounted at a point spaced from thepivot of said handle, a flexible tubular member connectingsaid ring andsaid outlet, an upwardly extending support rigidly connected to saidring, and means yieldably connecting the upper end of said support andsaid handle.

6. A suction'cleaner comprising vided with a discharge outlet and havingan upwardly extending handle pivoted thereto, a ring carried by saidoutlet and pivotally mounted at a point spaced from the pivot of saidhandle, a flexible tubular member connecting. said ring and said outlet,a support arm rigidly connectedwith said ring, the upper end of saidsupport handle.

7. A coupling and supporting device for attachment of a dust filteringbag to a suction cleaner, comprising a pair of rings pivotallyassociated at one edge, and a flexible and extensible tubular memberconnecting said rings, said flexible member'having a circumferentiallyextending corrugation therein increasing in depth in both directionsfrom a point adjacent said point or pivotal association of said rings toa point radially more remote therefrom.

8. A flexible member for connecting a dust filtering bag to the outletor a suction cleaner, comprising a tube of resilient material havingstraight end portions and formed with a circumand means slidablysupporting arm from said ferentially extending corrugation between saidend portions, the normal formation of said member when free from strainbeing such that the end portions of said member are disposed at an angleto each other to form a bend, the radial depth of said corrugationincreasing in both directions from a minimum on the inside of said bendto a maximum on the outside or said bend.

9. A detachable coupling and supporting device ter the attachment of adust filtering bag to the exhaust outlet of a suction cleaner of thetype including a nozzle, an exhaust outlet, and suction-creating meanstherebetween, comprising a pair of rings one of which is adapted to seatupon the exhaust outlet of a suction cleaner, means at one side of saidrings for pivotally connecting said rings for movement toward and fromeach other, and a flexible corrugated tubular member forming an airpassageway connectin said rings and adapted to expand and contract uponpivotal movement of said rings, the maximum expansion and contractiontaking place on the side or said tubular member spaced a maximumdistance from the pivotal axis.

10. A detachable coupling and supporting device for the attachment andmovable mounting of a dust filtering bag to and on a suction cleaner ofthe type including a nozzle, an exhaust outlet, and suction-creatingmeans therebetween, comprising a rigid apertured mounting element haustoutlet, a second apertured rigid mounting element adapted to seata dustbag, a corrugated a body probellows-like conduit for air connecting theapertures in said mounting elements, a rigid means connecting saidmounting elements for pivotal movement about an axis closely adjacentone side of 'said conduit whereby upon relative pivotal movement of saidmounting elements the side of said conduit spaced a maximum distancefrom said axis receives the greatest expansion and contraction.

11. In a suction cleaner of the type including a nozzle andsuction-creating means connected to said nozzle; an exhaust outlet fordirt-laden air, a corrugated bellowslike .conduit connected at one endto said exhaust outlet, bag-mounting means at the opposite end of saidconduit, and means pivotally connecting said bag-mounting means to saidexhaust outlet for relative movement about an axis above and adjacentsaid conduit whereby the lower side of said conduit receives maximumexpansion and contraction upon the pivotal movement or said bag-mountingmeans.

12. In a suction cleaner of the type including a nozzle andsuction-creating means connected to said nozzle; an exhaust outlet fordirt-laden air, a corrugated flexible bellows-like conduit connected tosaid exhaust outlet, bag-mounting means at theouter end of said conduit,and means pivotallyconnecting said bag-mounting means to said exhaustoutlet for pivotal movement about an axis above and adjacent saidconduit whereby the lower side of said conduit receives maxiadapted tobe secured to the suction cleaner ex--v mum expansion and contractionupon the pivotal movement of said bag-mounting means to eifectdislodgement of residual foreign material.

13. In a suction cleaner of the type including a nozzle, an exhaustoutlet, and suction-creating means therebetween; a dirtfiltering bag andmeans to connect flexibly said bag to said exhaust outlet, said meanscomprising a flexible bellows-like conduit interiorly connecting saidbag to said exhaust outlet and a rigid pivotal mounting between the endsof said conduit the axis of which lies above said conduit wherebymaximum extension and compression takes place .along the lower side ofsaid conduit upon movement of said bag relative to said exhaust outlet.14. In a suction cleaner of the type including a nozzle, an exhaustoutlet, andsuction-creating means therebetween; a dirt-filtering baghaving an open mouth at its lower end, a bag ring sealing the mouth ofsaid bag, a pivotal connection between said ring and said exhaust outletthe axis of which extends transversely or said mouth and adjacent thetop of said ring, a corrugated bellows-like conduit connecting said ringand said exhaust outlet and positioned below said axis, an operatinghandle pivotally connected to said cleaner and supporting the upper endof said bag. and means to vary positively the angular position of saidring relative to the exhaust outlet upon the pivotal movement of saidhandle" relative to said cleaner.

HARRY B. WHII'E.

